Rebuilding Together Partners with Lowe’s to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements

This fall, Rebuilding Together partnered with Lowe’s to address critical home needs during the cold winter months.  Lowe’s provided a grant that enabled us to make energy efficiency and weatherization improvements for more than 10 homeowners in need.

During the course of the fall, Lowe’s supported 65 Rebuilding Together affiliates, including Rebuilding Together Twin Cities, by helping them achieve their mission of giving low-income homeowners a safe and healthy home through grants for energy efficiency improvements.  Lowe’s has been a strong partner of the national Rebuilding Together network since 2007.  Since the beginning of this impactful partnership, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has donated $1 million annually to Rebuilding Together.  In 2012, Lowe’s doubled their support to $2 million dollars. Over $7 million has been contributed to support 687 Lowe’s and Rebuilding Together projects nationwide.  Thank you to Lowe’s for helping keep Twin Cities area homeowners warm this winter!

Thanks To….

Honeywell Retired Volunteer Program – Rebuilt stairs for a Minneapolis homeowner on October 16th.

DCMA – Installed railings, a washer and dryer, and a stove and patched and repaired drywall and exterior flashing for a South Minneapolis homeowner on October 18th.

Rimage Corp – Made energy efficiency improvements, including installing water heater blanket, insulating pipes and weatherstripping doors and windows on October 18th.

Journeyman Volunteers – Learned how to make energy efficiency improvements on October 25th.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance – Helped organize our warehouse and made a gift for our homeowners – a green Rebuilding Together birdhouse plaque!

Young Professionals of Minneapolis – Helped a South Minneapolis homeowner in need on October 27th.

Students Today, Leaders Forever – Helped organize our warehouse and make birdhouses on November 10th.

St. Kate’s Occupational Therapy students – Helped with Safe at Home previews throughout the month.

ATK – Continued to work on the renovation project for the transitional housing shelter run by the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans on October 26th.

Rebuilding Together Twin Cities Partnering with Recipient of Idea Open Project Grant

We are very excited to announce that we were selected as the non-profit partner of Jim Rettew, who recently received a grant through the Idea Open Project to organize a “barn raising” that allows people of all skills and abilities and from different cultures to work alongside each other.  Jim submitted his idea for this project to the Idea Open Challenge III, and the public was asked to vote on which project they thought should receive $15,000 in grant support.  Out of 600 entries, Jim’s received the most votes!  Jim’s full proposal is available here.  After finding out his idea was selected, Jim reached out to us to help plan and implement his project.  We are planning to complete Jim’s project this spring, so please stay tuned for more details!

The Idea Open Challenge III: Working Together Across Cultures and Faiths is made possible by One Nation and three affiliates of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners: Minnesota Community Foundation, Multicultural Endowment and Facing Race. Learn more at onenationfoundation.org and mnpartners.org.

Dave Christensen Receives Staff Member of the Year Award

We are proud to announce that our Construction Manager, Dave Christensen, was recently awarded the Staff Member of the Year Award by the national Rebuilding Together affiliate network. This award, which is given out annually at Rebuilding Together’s national conference, recognizes one staff member from the affiliate network who exemplifies service excellence, leadership and innovation in their efforts to help homeowners in need live independently in safe and healthy homes.

Dave joined the Rebuilding Together Twin Cities’ staff in 2009.  As the Construction Supervisor, Dave is responsible for the general contracting and oversight of all home repair projects.  Dave previews projects, develops work scopes, determines volunteer and contracted labor needs, pulls permits and ensures local building codes are adhered to, and works to make sure that projects are completed within budget and time constraints.  In addition to his role as Construction Manager, Dave also works as an adjunct instructor at Dunwoody College of Technology.

“We are thrilled that Rebuilding Together, Inc. has recognized Dave Christensen with this award,” said Kathy Greiner, Executive Director for Rebuilding Together Twin Cities.  “Dave’s experience as a social worker, small business owner and skilled jack-of-all-trades handyman has proven invaluable to our efforts to help more homeowners in need in the Twin Cities.”

Congratulations Dave!